Warrior

City of Warrior
Incorporated	1899
Population	3,169
Mayor	Rena Hudson
School district	Jefferson County Schools
Government	Warrior City Council Warrior Fire Department Warrior Police Department
Web site	jeffcomayors.com
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Warrior (incorporated in 1899) is a city of 3,169 on 7.9 square miles in northern Jefferson County, directly north of Kimberly on the Blount County line. It is traversed by I-65 and Highway 31. The city takes its name from the Warrior coal fields, which James Pierce opened in 1872 in the vicinity. The coal fields were named, in turn, after the Black Warrior River that drains them. The town, which was built on a spur of the L & N Railroad, was originally Warrior Station. The Warrior Post Office (35180) was established in 1872 with Pierce as postmaster.

In 1884 the bluff-top community, centered on Stouts Road, boasted 500 residents. The Warrior Coal and Coke Company, Watts Coal and Coke and Iron Company, and Jacob Brake and Company were active in the area. Brake and Pierce jointly operated a general merchandise store in town, attracting local farm families. By 1887 the community had grown to 1,200. A number of saloons had opened and a brick tile manufacturer was employing townsmen. Soon the area became the main terminal for shipping Jefferson County coal by barge.

By 1900, T. M. Davidson had established a Bank of Warrior and S. C. Davidson was publishing the Warrior Breeze. C. C. Johnson operated the Johnson House Hotel. By 1910 Warrior was the largest rural community in the county and boasted a millinery store, a confectionary, and six physicians.

"Warrior Day" is celebrated in town each Fall. The Alabama Warriors minor-league football team plays at Warrior Stadium adjacent to Warrior Elementary School. Warrior High School competes in the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Class 2A.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 3,169 people, 1,302 households, and 898 families residing in the city. The population density is 402.2/mi². There are 1,439 housing units at an average density of 182.6/mi². The racial makeup of the city is 83% White, and 15% Black.

There are 1,302 households out of which 28.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% are non-families. 28.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the city the population is spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $28,143, and the median income for a family is $35,697. Males have a median income of $32,306 versus $20,486 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,919. 11.0% of the population and 12.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

The Jefferson County Board of Equalization evaluated 850 homes in Warrior and determined that their average market value for 2007 was $85,423, a 2.4% increase since 2006.

Government

The city is governed by Mayor Rena Hudson and a five-member Warrior City Council. The city operates its own police and fire department.

Jefferson County Schools operate Warrior Elementary and Corner High School within the community.

References

• White, Marjorie Longenecker (1981) The Birmingham District: An Industrial History and Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society ISBN 9990230099
• "Warrior, Alabama." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 May 2007, 00:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7 May 2007 [1].
• Foscue, Virginia O. (1989) Place Names in Alabama. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 081730410X